Heat exchanger cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A cleaning system is disclosed for use with a heat exchanger. The cleaning system may have a nozzle configured to discharge a flow of fluid, and an actuator operatively attachable to a side of the heat exchanger and configured to move the nozzle across a face of the heat exchanger. The cleaning system may also have a control panel mounted remotely from the actuator and connected to the actuator and to the nozzle. The control panel may be configured to receive operator input indicative of desired movement of the nozzle, and to selectively energize the actuator based on the operator input.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a cleaning system and, moreparticularly, to a system for cleaning heat exchangers.

BACKGROUND

Most mobile machines are powered by an internal combustion engine, forexample a diesel engine, a gasoline engine, or a gaseous-fuel poweredengine. Each of these engines combust a mixture of fuel and air togenerate a mechanical power output used to propel the machine. With thepurpose to ensure optimum combustion of the fuel/air mixture and protectcomponents of the engine from damaging extremes, temperatures of theengine and air drawn into the engine for combustion should be tightlycontrolled.

Typical internal combustion engines are cooled by way of one or moreheat exchangers and an axial cooling fan disposed adjacent (e.g., infront of or behind) the heat exchangers. Coolants from the engine arecirculated through the heat exchangers, while the axial cooling fandirects a flow of fresh air through the heat exchangers to absorb heatfrom the coolants. The coolants, having dissipated heat to the air, arethen circulated back through the engine to cool the engine. The air,after having absorbed heat from the heat exchanger, is directed to theatmosphere.

Unfortunately, debris carried by the cooling air can build up in theheat exchangers, blocking flow paths through the heat exchangers. Ifleft unchecked, an efficiency of the heat exchangers can reduce overtime due to the blockage. Accordingly, the debris should be periodicallyremoved from the heat exchangers to help ensure proper operation of theengine.

Conventionally, the debris is removed from the heat exchangers by way ofa hand-held wand that discharges pressurized air through the heatexchangers in reverse direction. This reverse flow of high-pressure airforces the debris back out of the heat exchangers in the direction thatit originally entered the heat exchangers, thereby clearing channels ofthe heat exchangers for more efficient cooling. This conventional methodof cleaning heat exchangers can be labor intensive and only moderatelysuccessful in smaller applications where the service technician canreach all areas of the heat exchangers.

An attempt to improve heat exchanger cleaning is disclosed in JP PatentPublication 2005/147428 of Hiroyuki that published on Jun. 9, 2005 (the'428 publication). Specifically, the '428 publication describes a devicefor use in manually cleaning a heat exchanger. The device includes anarrangement of air nozzles coupled together in a row and suspended atone side of a heat exchanger by way of ropes connected to the row ofnozzles at opposing ends. A supply of air from a compressor is directedto the nozzles as the ropes are manually pulled by a service technicianfrom outside of an associated fan shroud. Pulling the ropes causes thenozzles to move upward in front of the heat exchanger, while releasingthe ropes allows gravity to pull the nozzles down. In this manner, theair discharged from the nozzles washes areas of the heat exchanger thatcould not normally be reached by the technician.

Although the device of the '428 publication may enhance heat exchangercleaning, it may still be problematic. In particular, the process maystill be labor intensive and prone to operator error. In addition, thesystem may lack durability.

The disclosed cleaning system is directed to overcoming one or more ofthe problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a cleaning systemfor use with a heat exchanger. The cleaning system may include a nozzleconfigured to discharge a flow of fluid, and an actuator operativelyattachable to a side of the heat exchanger and configured to move thenozzle across a face of the heat exchanger. The cleaning system may alsoinclude a control panel mounted remotely from the actuator and connectedto the actuator and to the nozzle. The control panel may be configuredto receive operator input indicative of desired movement of the nozzle,and to selectively energize the actuator based on the operator input.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method ofcleaning a heat exchanger. The method may include directing fluidthrough a nozzle toward the heat exchanger. The method may also includereceiving an input indicative of a desire to move the fluid nozzle, andselectively moving the nozzle across a face of the heat exchangers inresponse to the input during fluid discharge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed machine;and

FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed cleaningsystem that may be used in conjunction with the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed cleaningactuator that forms a portion of the cleaning system of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed controlpanel that forms a portion of the cleaning system of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a machine 10. Machine 10may be a stationary or mobile machine that performs some type ofoperation associated with an industry such as mining, construction,farming, transportation, petroleum reclamation, or another industryknown in the art. For example, machine 10 may be an earth moving machinesuch as the wheel loader shown in FIG. 1, a motor grader, a track-typetractor, a haul truck, or another type of mobile machine. Alternatively,machine 10 may be associated with electric power generation, fluid(e.g., oil, water, gas, etc.) pumping, or another stationaryapplication, if desired. Machine 10 may include a frame 12 that supportsan engine 14 within an enclosure 16. Enclosure 16 may include, amongother things, a housing 18 and a ventilated cowling 20 that closes offan end of housing 18. Housing 18 may be provided with one or more airinlets 22 configured to allow air flow through at least a portion ofenclosure 16 for cooling purposes, as will be described in more detailbelow.

As shown in FIG. 2, machine 10 may be equipped with a coolingarrangement 24 that communicates with air inlets 22 of housing 18 andwith ventilated cowling 20 to facilitate the production of power withinengine 14. Cooling arrangement 24 may include, among other things, aplurality of heat exchangers 26 packaged together within housing 18 andfluidly connected to engine 14, and a fan 28 disposed within housing 18,adjacent to heat exchangers 26. Heat exchangers 26 may include, amongother things, one or more engine oil coolers, one or more air coolers,one or more transmission oil coolers, one or more HVAC coolers, or anyother types of coolers known in the art. Heat exchangers 26 may bearranged in layers, rows, and/or columns. For example, a lower row 30 ofheat exchangers 26 may be directly supported by frame 12 (referring toFIG. 1), while an upper row 32 of heat exchangers 26 may be mountedabove the lower row 30 and opposite frame 12. Similarly, a first layer34 of heat exchangers 26 may be spaced apart from fan 28, and a secondlayer 36 of heat exchangers 26 may be located between first layer 34 andfan 28. The specific arrangement of heat exchangers 26 may be dependentupon the application of machine 10 and/or desired temperatures of thespecific fluids passing through the respective heat exchangers 26.

Each of heat exchangers 26 may be configured to dissipate heat from theprimary fluids passing through them to the flow of air generated by fan28. These primary fluids may be water, glycol, a water/glycol mixture,air, a blended air mixture, or oil (e.g., engine oil hydraulic oil,transmission oil, brake oil, etc.). Each of heat exchangers 26 may aliquid-to-air type of exchanger or an air-to-air type of heat exchanger,as desired. In either of these embodiments, the flow of air generated byfan 28 may be drawn from air inlets 22 through channels of therespective heat exchangers 26, such that heat from the primary fluidswithin adjacent channels is transferred to the air. In this manner, theprimary fluids passing through other components of machine 10 may becooled to desired operating temperatures. While fan 28, in the disclosedexemplary embodiment, is situated to draw the flow of air through heatexchanger 26, it is contemplated that fan 28 could be alternativelysituated to push the air through heat exchangers 26 and out inlets 22,if desired.

The heat exchangers 26 located in upper row 32 and second layer 36,because of their height above frame 12 and their recessed locationbetween first layer 34 and fan 28, may be difficult for a servicetechnician to clean properly. Accordingly, cooling arrangement 24 may beequipped with a cleaning system 38 that facilitates remote cleaning ofthese heat exchangers 26. Cleaning system 38 may include, among otherthings, one or more fluid nozzles 40 associated with each of thehard-to-reach heat exchangers 26, an actuator 42 connected to eachnozzle 40, and a control panel 44 mounted remotely from each nozzle 40and actuator 42. Control panel 44 may be connected to each nozzle 40 viaa fluid supply line 46 and to each actuator 42 via a power supply line48.

Each nozzle 40 may embody any type of nozzle known in the art fordischarging a high-pressure fluid toward an associated heat exchanger26. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, nozzle 40 is a knife-blade nozzleconfigured to discharge a generally horizontal sheet of high-pressurefluid. In this embodiment, nozzle 40 is elongated and the high-pressurefluid is supplied to opposing ends of nozzle 40 in parallel, such thatthe fluid is discharged along the length of nozzle 40 in a substantiallyeven manner (e.g., at a substantially equal pressure and flow rate). Itis contemplated that nozzle 40 may alternatively be another type ofnozzle, if desired. For example, nozzle 40 could be a tubular nozzlehaving a plurality of discharge apertures spaced along its length andoriented toward heat exchangers 26, or include one or more individualspray or jet type orifices, as desired. The fluid discharged by nozzle40 may be, for example, air.

Actuator 42 may be any type of actuator that functions to move one ormore nozzles 40 across a face of an associated heat exchanger 26. In thedisclosed embodiment, each actuator 42 is a linear actuator that moves asingle nozzle 40 in a generally vertical direction aligned with gravity,between a top edge of upper row 32 of heat exchangers 26 and an opposinglower edge. It is contemplated that actuator 42 could alternatively movehorizontally, if desired. However, such movement may add unnecessarystress to actuator 42 due to a cantilevered mass of nozzle 40 that wouldbe created in such an arrangement. Exemplary types of linear actuators42 include a screw type actuator having a lead screw 50 and a lead nut52, one of which is rotated by a motor 54; a rack and pinionarrangement; a cam arrangement; or a cylinder arrangement. It is alsocontemplated that actuator 42 could alternatively be a rotary actuator,if desired, that rotates nozzle 40 around the face of the associatedheat exchanger 26. In the disclosed embodiment, actuator 42 iselectrically powered, although other forms of power are also possible(e.g., pneumatically powered, hydraulically powered, mechanicallypowered, etc.).

Control panel 44 may provide an interface for use by a servicetechnician in controlling operations of cleaning system 38.Specifically, control panel 44 may include a control housing 55 recessedwithin (or otherwise mounted to) machine housing 18, and a plurality ofinterface devices located within housing 55. The interface devices maybe accessed by the service technician from outside of enclosure 16,while the service technician is standing on frame 12. The interfacedevices may include, among other things, a fluid control valve 56associated with each fluid supply line 46, a switch 58 associated witheach power supply line 48, and a fluid supply port 60 in communicationwith fluid control valves 56. It is contemplated that control panel 44may include additional interface and/or serviceable components, ifdesired, such as a fluid filter, a pressure regulator, and other similardevices known in the art.

Each fluid control valve 56 may be a manually operable valve having alever movable between a first position and a second position. When thelever is in the first position (generally horizontal position shown inFIG. 4), pressurized air may be allowed to flow from supply port 60 intothe corresponding passage 46. When the lever is rotated through about90° to a generally vertical position (not shown), fluid communicationbetween supply port 60 and passage 46 may be inhibited. It iscontemplated that only one or both of control valves 56 may be in theflow-passing first position at the same time, as desired and/ordepending on a flow rate and pressure of compressed air provided tosupply port 60. That is, if the flow rate and pressure provided tosupply port 60 are low, it may be desirable to open only one of controlvalves 56 at a time. Otherwise, both control valves 56 may besimultaneously opened for faster cleaning.

Switch 58 may be, for example, a toggle switch that is movable betweenmultiple positions to control the motion of actuator 42. For example,switch 58 may be movable from a neutral position (shown in FIG. 4) atwhich actuator 42 is not energized, upward to a position at whichactuator 42 is selective energized to extend lead screw 50, and downwardto a position at which actuator 42 is selectively energized to retractlead screw 50. The electrical power provided to actuators 42 via switch58 may be supplied from an onboard battery, such that even when engine14 (referring to FIG. 1) is turned off, actuator 42 may still beoperable. It is contemplated that other types of switches mayalternatively be utilized, if desired, to selectively energize actuator42. It is further contemplated that the same switches 58 or additionalinterface devices may be included that function to control speeds orother parameters of actuators 42, if desired.

Fluid supply port 60 may allow an external (e.g., offboard) source ofpressurized air (or other fluid) to be selectively used to supply nozzle40. For example, a compressor or tank located onboard a service truck(not shown) may be selectively connected to fluid supply port 60 tosupply nozzles 40 with the air required to clean heat exchangers 26. Inthe disclosed embodiment, fluid supply port 60 is a compression fitting,although other types of fittings may also be used, if desired. It isalso contemplated that an onboard source of pressurized air (e.g., anengine-driven compressor or turbocharger) may be used to supply nozzles40.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The disclosed cleaning system may be applicable to any type andconfiguration of heat exchangers known in the art. However, thedisclosed cleaning system may be particularly applicable to coolingarrangements having heat exchangers that are difficult to access, forexample elevated heat exchangers or heat exchangers buried betweenlayers of other components. The disclosed cleaning system may allow forcleaning of these difficult-to-access heat exchangers from a remotelocation that is more accessible by a service technician. The disclosedcleaning system may be used while the associated engine (or enginesystem—e.g., power train, hydraulics, brakes, etc.) is turned off, asthe disclosed cleaning system may be provided with cleaning fluid andpower from an external and offboard source. Operation of cleaning system38 will now be described in detail.

After a period of operation of machine 10, dust and debris may haveaccumulated within channels of heat exchangers 26. This dust and debris,if not removed, may block the flow of cooling air through the channelsand thereby reduce an amount of heat that can be absorbed by the air. Asa result, engine performance (or performance of the system connected tothe heat exchangers 26) may decrease and, in some situations, damage mayoccur. Accordingly, the channels of heat exchangers 26 may beperiodically cleaned of dust and debris. Cleaning may be accomplished byselectively reversing the flow of air through the channels of heatexchangers 26.

Cleaning system 38 may be used to generate the reverse flow of airthrough heat exchangers 26. In particular, when engine 14 of machine 10is turned off, so as to stop the flow of air generated by fan 28, aservice technician may board machine 10. The service technician mayconnect an offboard air supply (e.g., a compressor or tank) to fluidsupply port 60 within control panel 44, and move one or both of thelevers of control valves 56 to their flow passing positions. At aboutthe same time, the service technician may move one or both of switches58 up and down to energize actuators 42 and create corresponding motionsof nozzles 40. The service technician may continue this operation untila prescribed amount of time has elapsed, until heat exchangers 26 arevisibly clean, until a change in pressure and/or flow rate of airthrough heat exchangers 26 is observed, until debris is no longer beingdislodged from heat exchangers 26, or until another condition has beenmet. The service technician may then return control valves 56 andswitches 58 to their original positions and disconnect the source ofpressurized air from fluid supply port 60. The debris dislodged fromheat exchanger 26 may fall under the force of gravity down between firstand second layers 34, 36 of heat exchangers 26. In some applications,frame 12 may have openings at this location, such that the dislodgeddebris may exit enclosure 16. In other applications, the servicetechnician may be required to manually remove the fallen debris fromframe 12.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the disclosed cleaningsystem without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Otherembodiments of the cleaning system will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of thecleaning disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that cleaningsystem 38 could be an automated system, if desired, that is selectivelyand automatically activated when engine 14 is turned off. In thisalternative embodiment, nozzles 40 may be supplied with pressurized airfrom an onboard tank. It is further contemplated that control panel 44could alternatively be located elsewhere on machine 10, if desired, forexample within an operator cabin. It is intended that the specificationand examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of thedisclosure being indicated by the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat exchanger cleaning system, comprising: anozzle configured to discharge a flow of fluid; an actuator operativelyattachable to a side of a heat exchanger and configured to move thenozzle across a face of the heat exchanger; and a control panel mountedremotely from the actuator and connected to the actuator and to thenozzle, the control panel configured to: receive operator inputindicative of desire to move the nozzle; and selectively energize theactuator based on the operator input.
 2. The heat exchanger cleaningsystem of claim 1, wherein the actuator is linear actuator.
 3. The heatexchanger cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the actuator includes: arotary motor; a lead screw attached to rotate with the rotary motor; anda lead nut engaged with the lead screw and connected to the nozzle. 4.The heat exchanger cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the actuator iselectrically powered.
 5. The heat exchanger cleaning system of claim 1,wherein the actuator is configured to move the nozzle in a directiongenerally aligned with gravity.
 6. The heat exchanger cleaning system ofclaim 1, wherein the fluid is compressed air.
 7. The heat exchangercleaning system of claim 6, wherein the control panel includes an airinlet port connectable with an offboard air source.
 8. The heatexchanger cleaning system of claim 6, wherein the nozzle is a knifeblade nozzle configured to discharge a sheet of compressed air.
 9. Theheat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the control panel is configured todirect compressed air in parallel flows to opposing ends of the knifeblade nozzle.
 10. The heat exchanger cleaning system of claim 1,wherein: the nozzle is a first nozzle associated with a first heatexchanger; the actuator is a first actuator associated with the firstnozzle; the heat exchanger further includes: a second nozzle associatedwith a second heat exchanger; and a second actuator associated with thesecond nozzle; and the control panel is: configured to receive operatorinput indicative of desired movement of the second and nozzle; andconnected to the second actuator and to the second nozzle in parallelwith the first actuator and the first nozzle.
 11. The heat exchangercleaning system of claim 1, wherein the control panel further includes avalve movable to regulate fluid flow to the nozzle.
 12. The heatexchanger cleaning system of claim 11, wherein the control panel furtherincludes an input device movable to selectively energize the actuator.13. A method of cleaning a heat exchanger, comprising: directing fluidthrough a nozzle toward the heat exchanger; receiving an inputindicative of a desire to move the nozzle; and selectively moving thenozzle across a face of the heat exchanger in response to the inputduring fluid discharge.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein selectivelymoving the nozzle includes moving the nozzle linearly in a directiongenerally aligned with gravity.
 15. The method of claim 13, whereinselectively moving the nozzle across the face of the nozzle in responseto the input includes selectively energizing an electrically poweredactuator.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid is compressedair.
 17. The method of claim 16, further including receiving a supply ofcompressed air from a temporary offboard source.
 18. The method of claim13, wherein directing fluid through a nozzle includes discharging asheet of fluid toward the heat exchanger.
 19. The method of claim 18,further including directing parallel flows of fluid to opposing ends ofthe nozzle.
 20. A machine, comprising: a frame; a plurality of heatexchangers arranged in rows and supported by the frame; a fan located atone side of the heat exchangers and configured to generate a flow of airthrough the plurality of heat exchangers; a nozzle associated with afirst of the plurality of heat exchangers located in an upper one of therows opposite the frame, between the plurality of heat exchangers andthe fan, and configured to discharge compressed air toward the first ofthe plurality of heat exchangers; an actuator mounted to a second of theplurality of heat exchangers located in a lower one of the rows adjacentthe frame and operatively connected to the nozzle, the actuatorconfigured to selectively move the nozzle across a face of the first ofthe plurality of heat exchangers; and a control panel mounted at an edgeof the plurality of heat exchangers remote from the actuator, thecontrol panel having: an air inlet port fluidly connected to the nozzle;an air valve disposed between the air inlet port and the nozzle; and aninput device movable by an operator to selectively energize theactuator.